turkish embassy letters lady mary montagu

In the following essay, Turner compares the correspondence of Montagu to that of Elizabeth Craven, a later letter-writer who argued that Montagu's Turkish letters were not authentic and were probably written by a man. 'From Classical to Imperial: Changing Visions of Turkey in the Eighteenth Century.' In Travel Writing and Empire: Postcolonial Theory in Transit, edited by Steve Clark, pp. From The Collected Letters of Mary Wortley Montagu, Vol. Let us offer her the Palm which is justly her due, and if we pretend to any Laurels, lay them willingly at her Feet.Īstell, Mary.

Rather let us freely own the Superiority of this Sublime Genius as I do in the sincerity of my Soul, pleas'd that a Woman Triumphs, and proud to follow in her Train. Let us be better Christians than to look upon her with an evil eye, only because the Giver of all good Gifts has entrusted and adorn'd her with the most excellent Talents. For I doubt not but our hearts will tell us that this is the Real and unpardonable Offence, whatever may be pretended. Let us be better natur'd than to give way to any unkind or disrespectful thought of so bright an Ornament of our Sex, merely because she has better Sense. Let the Men malign one another, if they think fit, and strive to pul down Merit when they cannot equal it. In short, let her own Sex at least do her Justice Lay aside diabolical Envy and its Brother Malice with all their accursed Company, Sly Whispering, cruel backbiting, spiteful detraction, and the rest of that hideous crew, which I hope are very falsely said to attend the Tea Table, being more apt to think they haunt those Public Places where Virtuous Women never come. But as her Ladyship's penetration discovers the inmost follys of the heart, so the candor of her Temper passes over them with an air of pity rather than reproach, treating with the politeness of a Court and gentleness of a Lady what the severity of her Judgment cannot but Condemn. For besides that Vivacity and Spirit which enliven every part and that inimitable Beauty which spreads thro the whole, besides that Purity of Style for which it may justly be accounted the Standard of the English Tongue, the Reader will find a more true and accurate Account of the Customs and Manners of the several Nations with whom the Lady Convers'd than he can in any other Author. I confess I am malicious enough to desire that the World shou'd see to how much better purpose the Ladys Travel than their Lords, and that whilst it is surfeited with Male Travels, all in the same Tone and stuft with the same Trifles, a Lady has the skill to strike out a New Path and to embellish a worn-out Subject with variety of fresh and elegant Entertainment. ABOUT THE AUTHOR MARY ASTELL'S PREFACE TO MONTAGU'S TURKISH EMBASSY LETTERS (1763) MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU: TITLE COMMENTARY Turkish Embassy Letters

Turkish embassy letters lady mary montagu